Robert Joseph Allen

Robert Joseph Allen, 54, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 19, 2024, lovingly surrounded by members of his family. 

Rob was born on December 7, 1969, in Belleville, Kansas, the first of two children of Roger and Pam Allen. When he was a kid, Rob always had a basketball, tennis ball, or football in his hands, and he loved being in the middle of any action. He spent hours on basketball and tennis courts, playing high school varsity in both sports. After Rob graduated from Salina South High School in 1988, he went on to study journalism at the University of Kansas and was a brother of the KU Chapter of Phi Delta Theta.

After graduating from KU, he started his first job as a sales executive at Unum, kickstarting a thirty-year career in insurance and employee benefits. Along the way Rob spent time golfing and traveling for work, and he found a new calling as “Uncle Rob” to Izzy.

In 2005, Rob met Meghann Johnson at the office. Five years later on March 19, 2010, with close friends and family, Rob and Meg married in a snow-covered cabin in Allenspark, Colorado. On September 30, 2013, they welcomed twin boys, Jack and Gus, who became the center of their universe. Four-legged babies – Whiskey and Bruce – were also important Allen family additions.

In June 2022, Rob was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He continued to work full-time for the better part of two years. Between surgeries and treatments, in true Good Vibes – Be A Goldfish – Never Give Up fashion, Rob and his family became road-trip warriors. Destinations included St. Louis to catch a Cubs game (of course!) and to ascend the Arch, and multiple western National Parks and sites: the Badlands, Devil’s Tower, Grand Tetons (including Colter Bay – where Jack gets his middle name), Yellowstone, RMNP, Grand Canyon (North and South Rims!), Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands. Rob loved the open road, American history, and introducing his boys to these special places.

A happy Rob would be found watching thoroughbred horse racing, his Cubbies, the Celtics, the Jayhawks, the Stars, and college football. He enjoyed reading with a particular interest in historical books. His favorite was Lonesome Dove, where he found the name Gus. 

Rob was predeceased by grandparents Clarence and Elise Lott, Bernard Allen, Elva Lee (Allen) Jones and cousin Luke Allen. He is survived by wife Meghann (Johnson) Allen, sons Gus and Jack Allen, parents Roger and Pam Allen, sister Kari (Marc) Williams, niece Izzy (Hunter) Willyard, uncle/aunt Lewis (JoBeth) Allen, cousins Rachel (Joe) Allen Polaneczky and Paul (Tonya) Allen, parents-in-law Steve and Connie Johnson and brother-in-law Chad (Christopher Heaps) Johnson.

Services will be held at Penwell-Gabel in Olathe, Kansas on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 3 p.m., with reception to follow. 

Memorial donations may be made to Jack and Gus Allen for college savings accounts at NBKC bank.